தமிழக பசுவினங்கள் எனும் இந்த இணையம் பிரதேச வாரியாக காணப்படும் நாட்டுபசுக்களை அவைகாணப்படும் பகுதியிலேயே காக்கும் பொருட்டும், இதுவரை ஆவணம் செய்யப்படாத பசுக்களை வெளிக்கொணரவும் ஆகும். Tamilnadu cattle Breeds: The objective of this site is to introduce the regional breeds and emphasise the necessity to conserve them only in their respective regions and not to spread them all along for exploitation. It also brings the undocumented breeds to limelight.

The Tamil speaking country consists of five socio - climatic - agricultural zones. The Sangam text Purananuru refers to this as the "five Tamil countries". Each country has its own breeds suited to the ecosystems and even micro ecology of the respective areas. All breeds thrive in local conditions and invariably deteriorate in alien environments.

1. Mee Konga (Mekattu madu or nowadays "Kangayam" मी कोङ्ग, मॆकाट्टुमाडु, काङ्गयम, गङ्गनाड ): The Chera country is also called Konga country therefore referred in Tamil as "Konga" cattle and "Ganganad" in Kannada. There are 24 divisions in this country. The cattle from one of the divisions "Kangayanadu" are referred as the typical Kangayam cattle. Mae Konga cattle are bred in the modern taluks of Kangayam, Dharapuram, Tiruppur, Udumalpet, Avinasi, Palladam (all in Tiruppur dt.), Palani, Oddanchatram, Vedasandur, Dindigul (all in Dindigul dt.), Aravakurichchi, Karur (Karur dt.), Coimbatore, Mettupalayam, Sulur, Pollachi (all in Coimbatore dt.), Erode, Bhavani, Perundurai, Gobichettipalayam, Sathyamangalam (all in Erode dt.), the right bank side of the Kaveri in Mettur tk. in Salem dt., the panchayats of Mayanur, Balarajapuram, Manavasi, Renganathapuram in Krishnarayapuram tk. of Karur dt. summing up as the region to the west and south of the Kaveri until Mayanur. Bred by the Konga Vellala community. It is said to have come with the Konga Vellalas from the Gangetic (therefore Konga or Ganga) region in the pre - Sangam age. Official website of Palayakottai Pattagars: http://kangayambull.org/

A Mee Konga (Kangayam) bullock

2. Mazha Konga (Kikattu madu or "Tiruchengodu" मऴ कोङ्ग, कीकाट्टु, तिरुच्चेङ्गोडु): Found on the northern and eastern side of the Kaveri in the Taluks of Mecheri, Omalur, Nangavalli, Salem, Sankagiri, Attur, Gangavalli (all in Salem dt.) Rasipuram, Namakkal, Paramatti Velur, Tiruchendgode (all in Namakkal dt.), Kattuputtur (Tiruchirapppalli dt.) and parts of Dharmapuri dt. Bred by the Konga Vellala community. It is said to have come with the Konga Vellalas from the Gangetic (therefore Konga or Ganga) region in the pre - Sangam age. A smaller sized cousin of the Mee Konga breed yet a better milch variety. Bred by the Konga Vellala community. It is said to have come with the Konga Vellalas from the Gangetic (therefore Konga or Ganga) region in the pre - Sangam age. Has reduced greatly in numbers due to illegal smuggling encouraged by the government with slaughter houses and AI with Kangayam bulls. Official website of Palayakottai Pattagars: http://kangayambull.org/

Mazha Konga (Salem or Tiruchengodu) cows

Description in 'Livestock of South India':

3. Semmarai (Semmarai, Malayan mor "Bargur" सेम्मरै, मलैयन, बर्गूर): This is found in the mountainous regions of the Bhavani tk. in Erode dt. Has mixed red and white patterns. It has a white coloured cousin in the adjoining western hills. Resembles the Purnaia cattle (Amrut mahal - Hallikar corpus). Trotting variety firey in disposition. Bred by the Lingayat community of the mountainous forests. Linked intricately with them.

A Semmarai (Bargur) bull

4. Palamalai (पालमलाई): Bred in the Palamalai hills in the Mettur taluk of the Salem district and adjoining Anthiyur taluk of Erode dt.. Bred by the Malayala Goundans (Native hillsmen) in the hills and some Kongu Vellalans around. Nearly extinct. Confused with Alambadis and Bargurs, they are black in colour with white patterns.

The black individuals are Alambadi cows6. Kollimalai - Seravaroyan hill cattle:
Looks like a stunted pygmy version of Konga (Kangayam). Well suited for the tropical evergreen vegetation and malarial life in the Kolli - Yercaud - Pachamalai - Kalvarayan mountain corpus. Reared by the native Malayali tribesmen.

A large Kolli bully boy wishing us adieu!

Chola country:

North: North Vellar

East: Bay of Bengal

West: the Mayanur Madukkarai great wall

South: South Vellar

Breeds of the Chola country:

7. Vadakarai (Soliya Vadakarai, चोलिया वडकरै): Rounded shaped short variety with small horns. Bred by Choliya Vellalas, Mutturajas and Vanniars of the region. Found in Trichy North Dt (including Srirangam), Perambalur and Ariyalur Dts.

Mottai (Perambalur) herd

8. Konadan ("Manapparai" कॊनाडन, मणप्पारै): Found in the modern taluks of Krishnarayapuram, Kulittalai (both in Karur dt.), Manapparai, Trichy and Tovarankurichchi (all in Trichy dt.), Bred by the Choliya Vellalas of the region and intricately linked with their lifestyle.

10. Irucchali (इरुच्चाळि): Found as herds in the Sivaganga dt. and southern Pudukkottai dt. Nearly extinct.

Irucchali herd

11. Jallikattu (Pulikulam or Jellicut पुलिक्कुळम, जल्लिक्कट्टु): Previously found all over Nilakkottai, Nattam (both in Dindigul dt.), Madurai, Teni, Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram dts. now to be found mainly in the Cumbum valley of Teni dt. Used for bull baiting and draught. Predominantly bred by the Konar communit and part of its lifestyle. Endangered.

Pulikulam Cattle herd

Jallikattu (Pulikulam) stud bulls

Jallikattu (Pulikulam) calves

12. Thambiran madu (तम्बिरान माडु, दॆवरु आवु): Bred by Kannada speaking Kappiliya Gounders of the Teni dt. Called by them "Devaru Avu". All names meaning the "sacred herd". Intricately linked with the community.

13. Tenpandi (Tirunelveli तेन्पाण्डि, तिरुनेल्वॆलि): Found in the Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts. Well suited to the area. Bred by the Idayans (Konars),Nadars and Mukkulathors.

Tenpandi herd

14. Tirunelveli hill breed cattle (तिरुनेल्वॆलि पहाडी गॊ): They were grown along the eastern slopes of western ghats in Ancient pandya country. They are used by the local Organic farmers.

Many more breeds have gone non-descript due to the government system. The government also tries to mongrelise native breeds by crossing other native and alien species for making quick bucks through its infamous 'milk societies'. More to come.